At the end of November last year, 5.2 million people worked in local manufacturing units with 50 or more employees in Germany, up 1.5 percent compared to the end of November 2011. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the basis of provisional results, 243,000 persons worked in metal production and processing in Germany at the end of November 2012, stable both month on month and compared to the end of November of the previous year.

Employment in the manufacture of metal products in Germany rose 2.3 percent to 499,000 persons by the end of November last year compared to the same time in 2011, while it was down 1,000 persons or 0.2 percent compared to the end of October last year. Meanwhile, the number of employees in the production of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts increased 2.3 percent year on year to 748,000 persons, down 1,000 persons compared to the end of the previous month.